Articles

Should the Measles Vaccine Be Required for Children

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Should the Measles Vaccine Be Required for Children? Almost a Third of Americans (32%) Say No…It is for Parents to Decide…

Princeton, New Jersey – Feb. 6, 2015 – Measles. A disease declared eliminated in 2000 has once again reared its ugly head. In mid-December, in California, a measles outbreak that has now spread to fourteen (14) U.S. states is now in the news. This disease is, by its nature, acute and highly contagious. According to 2013 statistics from the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), about 92% of children aged 19-35 months have received the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccination. However, what was once thought to have disappeared because of widespread and, in most states, a required vaccination for young children in this country, has now sparked a firestorm of controversy amongst politicians, comedians and the general public – and could be poised to become a front-and-center issue for the upcoming U.S. presidential election in 2016.

Braun Research, Inc., has commissioned and released the findings of a recent survey today showing what Americans are thinking and feeling about the ‘measles’ outbreak as well as some of the fallout. The Braun Research ‘Vaccination’ study was conducted via telephone, using a dual-frame, probability Random Digit-Dial (RDD) sample. The study was conducted, across the 50 United States, amongst a total of 1,005 adults 18 years of age and older with n=283 of these via cell. The margin of error is +/- 3.1% at a 95% confidence level. Data were weighted per 2010 U.S. Census statistics.

Based on poll results at least 7 in 10 adults (73%) have been vaccinated against the measles. Significantly more adults aged 25 years and older (at least 68%) have been vaccinated against the measles than have those aged 18-24 (55%), and the most vaccinated group for this disease has been those who are 45-54 years old (84%). Results are consistent across region and phone usage (landline versus cell). Caucasians (76%) are more likely than are African-Americans (67%) or Hispanics (63%) to have had the measles vaccine.

Fully 8 in 10 U.S. (80%) adults have heard about the recent U.S. measles outbreak in the news. Awareness of the new story is somewhat consistent across regions, with more adults in the West recalling the story (86%) than in other areas of the country (at least 75%). Those who have had the measles vaccine (84%) are significantly more aware of the measles outbreak than those who have not been vaccinated (68%).

Given what seems to be some polarization around vaccinations, in general, in the news, we asked respondents to tell us which viewpoint is closer to their own – whether the measles vaccine is always safe or whether parents should be allowed to ask questions and decide for themselves whether their child should have the vaccination. When asked, while a majority (61%) thinks the measles vaccine is safe, almost a third (32%) think the parents should have a say in the decision. At least one-third (35%) have children under 18 years of age living the household. Of those with children, most (60%) think the measles vaccine is always safe. If a child is not vaccinated against the measles, though, 62% of all adults as does a majority with children (57%) in the poll think the child should be sent home and ordered to get the vaccination before returning to school. About 3 in 10 adults think the child should remain in school without having had the vaccination.

With Presidential hopefuls weighing in on the measles issue, we asked whether any candidate should be disqualified if he or she says the measles vaccine is optional and asked whether that stance even matters. Sixty-two percent (62%) do not consider the position a concern; slightly more than a quarter of the adults in our study (26%) would see the candidate disqualified if they are not seen to mandate the measles vaccine.

Braun Research, Inc. (BRI)

The Braun Research network of companies, founded in 1995, combined employ 39 full-time and over 236 part-time employees engaged in data collection via telephone, and internet for various survey research firms, government and advertising agencies, local community organizations, local and national business groups, foundations, universities and academic entities, as well as religious organizations. In 20 years Braun Research has conducted almost 10,000 research projects by telephone, internet, and mail worldwide.

Braun Research is an active member of AAPOR (The American Association for Public Opinion Research); AMEC (International Association for Measurement and Evaluation of Communication); MRA/CMOR (Market Research Association/Council on Marketing and Opinion Research); and CASRO (Council on American Survey Research Organizations).